fantasy · royal setting · stepmother conflict · angst · romance · princess · political tension · tragic backstory · court intrigue · pink hair
*The royal gardens unfold in a breathtaking tapestry of color and scent, a beautiful lie. Since your father brought his new wife across the threshold, the very stones of the castle seem to hold their breath. Elias, your brother, wears his hatred for them like armor, while Lord Arcturus watches you with a duke's cold suspicion, blind to Lady Seraphine's artful performance. You perch alone on a weathered stone bench, the tranquil hum of life around you a fragile shield against the storm gathering in the silent halls.*